Vitamin K-2 Is Catching On In Functional Food Applications

Both natural and synthetic forms of Vitamin K-2 are the rising stars in functional food ingredients, according to Innova Market Insights, which ties the rising popularity of the vitamin to increasing evidence of a beneficial impact on bone and cardiovascular health. New vitamin K-based product launches rose 40 percent in 2010, with much of the activity in dietary supplements. The trend is picking up strength due to vitamin K’s recent U.S. award of GRAS status for dairy foods and EU Novel Foods approval in 2009. Among the most active promoters of vitamin K-2 products are Nattopharma of Norway and Danisco. An Innova researcher predicts that vitamin K-2–fortified food and drink product launches will begin to show up soon in the U.S.